Still getting used to this whole early signing period thing, but seems like a good time for another quick overview of where we stand with the class of 2018 heading down the home stretch.
As usual, click on the prospect's name for a link to the most recent tape I could find; sometimes will be a highlight, other times will be a link to the "splash page" with multiple games posted separately. Just depends what the kid has posted.
With that, we're off!
Commits
QB Jason Whittaker -- stats and game reports have been a little scary, but can see why coaches like him in viewing his tape. He's a big, long kid who flashes high ceiling potential. He's most definitely a developmental QB, but should have plenty of time to do so with Thorson back next season and Smith/Marty waiting in the wings.
RB Isaiah Bowser -- won't be running away from people at the B1G/P5 level, but flashes very good feet and physicality for a guy his size. I think he could pretty easily flip over to LB if RB doesn't work out and will be on special teams throughout his career at the very least after a likely redshirt in the crowded RB room. Definitely a kid to pull for given his backstory.
WR Jacob Jefferson -- another guy who isn't a burner but flashes very good short-area quickness. Going to have to change his jitterbug playing style a bit or he will get killed in the B1G. Hopefully he is comfortable operating out of the slot, because there's definitely a role for him there in our offense.
SB Brian Kaiser -- [didn't find any senior video]
SB Charlie Mangieri -- big kid that plays lots of positions for a smaller school, seems destined for our in-line SB role. Looks like he could get a LOT bigger.
OL Wyatt Blake -- looks like an interior prospect to me. Pretty thick kid that plays with leverage and some "nasty."
OL Charlie Schmidt -- pretty similar to Blake. Get 'em in the weight room and see what happens.
OL Payne He'Bert -- probably the kid I was most interested in seeing on senior tape. Isn't particularly tall, but has very long arms and is a pretty smooth athlete. Will have to work on not going to ground so frequently, but has the signs of becoming a pretty decent tackle. Seems to have a lot of growth potential.
DE Andrew Leota -- doesn't have ideal size, but is pretty darn quick off the ball and plays very aggressively. Moves very well and has a nice burst. Could pretty easily end up as a 260-pound pass rush specialist sooner than later. I think we are going to be pretty happy with him, especially for a guy whose recruiting was pretty low-key and under-the-radar.
DE Devin O'Rourke -- pretty easy to see why he was so highly regarded/recruited. A big, long kid who does a lot of things you want out of a P5 DL. Probably won't scare anyone with pure speed off the edge, but has the length and strength to remain a pass rush threat. I'm sure the coaches see glimpses of Dean Lowry in him, which make sense (and with which I would be very happy).
LB Grayson Mann -- wow. Like this kid on senior tape a lot more than I thought I would. Rushes the passer off the edge a lot in high school, which I don't think will happen as often in college... but he flashes a lot of athletic ability with a good frame. Whereas I previously thought of him as Mike/Will, I can now see how he could play Sam as well. Intrigued.
LB Jaylen Rivers -- not a ton of tape posted, but plenty to like on what is available. File this one under "take the big fast guy and figure it out from there." Natural fit at Sam.
LB Khalid Jones -- doesn't necessarily blow you away athletically, but flashes the ability to find and close on the football. Similar playing style as Fisher, just with a little less size. I'll take it.
DB Greg Newsome -- has some technique to clean up, but is a pretty long and versatile athlete. Smoother than he is fast, but that's fine in our schemes. Might need a redshirt year to develop physically (plus the CB room is pretty crowded), but no reason he can't be a strong contributor.
DB Jeremiah McDonald -- big, rangy athlete playing safety. Could be a lot of different things depending how he develops physically. Another "take the big fast guy, figure it out later" situation.
Yet another solid class top-to-bottom, particularly on defense. Hank gets yet another crop of athletes to work into his schemes, though I do wish there were a little bit more explosive athleticism on the offensive side.
The Board
Looks like we are really down to two guys with recent offers, both of whom seem like candidates to commit on their upcoming official (12/15):
OL Ryan Winkel -- big, long kid who's pretty light on his feet for his size. Fits a definite need in the class for a "true tackle," even if a developmental guy. Seems like he mostly fell off of radars due to his transfer of high schools as I see no reason he isn't more highly recruited on tape. Get him in the weight room for a couple years and he should be a 315-pound tackle. I'm in.
RB Drake Anderson -- a familiar name around here as the son of Wildcat royalty, the good news is that his tape stands on its own. While it's a little unnerving that he has already had labrum surgery on both hips, he's an explosive running back with pretty good straight-line speed. A little tight in his hips (just like his dad) and doesn't quite have dad's size, but definitely worthy of P5 offers. Seems to have gotten stronger as the year went on, which makes sense for a guy who hadn't played in two years and was probably a little behind on strength and conditioning. Best football is probably ahead of him.
DB Andre Cisco also received an offer in the last week, but I don't get the vibe that we are really all that involved.
Winkel and Anderson are both excellent guys to fill out the end of the class -- under-the-radar types who emerged late for whatever reason, but both legitimate prospects. Plus it doesn't hurt that both have elite athletic bloodlines.
Hopefully all of these guys hop on board during the early signing period and it's on to building on the momentum of a 9/10-win season, the Taj Fitz, etc. to make 2019 even better. Off to a pretty good start already with Bryce Gallagher.
As usual, click on the prospect's name for a link to the most recent tape I could find; sometimes will be a highlight, other times will be a link to the "splash page" with multiple games posted separately. Just depends what the kid has posted.
With that, we're off!
Commits
QB Jason Whittaker -- stats and game reports have been a little scary, but can see why coaches like him in viewing his tape. He's a big, long kid who flashes high ceiling potential. He's most definitely a developmental QB, but should have plenty of time to do so with Thorson back next season and Smith/Marty waiting in the wings.
RB Isaiah Bowser -- won't be running away from people at the B1G/P5 level, but flashes very good feet and physicality for a guy his size. I think he could pretty easily flip over to LB if RB doesn't work out and will be on special teams throughout his career at the very least after a likely redshirt in the crowded RB room. Definitely a kid to pull for given his backstory.
WR Jacob Jefferson -- another guy who isn't a burner but flashes very good short-area quickness. Going to have to change his jitterbug playing style a bit or he will get killed in the B1G. Hopefully he is comfortable operating out of the slot, because there's definitely a role for him there in our offense.
SB Brian Kaiser -- [didn't find any senior video]
SB Charlie Mangieri -- big kid that plays lots of positions for a smaller school, seems destined for our in-line SB role. Looks like he could get a LOT bigger.
OL Wyatt Blake -- looks like an interior prospect to me. Pretty thick kid that plays with leverage and some "nasty."
OL Charlie Schmidt -- pretty similar to Blake. Get 'em in the weight room and see what happens.
OL Payne He'Bert -- probably the kid I was most interested in seeing on senior tape. Isn't particularly tall, but has very long arms and is a pretty smooth athlete. Will have to work on not going to ground so frequently, but has the signs of becoming a pretty decent tackle. Seems to have a lot of growth potential.
DE Andrew Leota -- doesn't have ideal size, but is pretty darn quick off the ball and plays very aggressively. Moves very well and has a nice burst. Could pretty easily end up as a 260-pound pass rush specialist sooner than later. I think we are going to be pretty happy with him, especially for a guy whose recruiting was pretty low-key and under-the-radar.
DE Devin O'Rourke -- pretty easy to see why he was so highly regarded/recruited. A big, long kid who does a lot of things you want out of a P5 DL. Probably won't scare anyone with pure speed off the edge, but has the length and strength to remain a pass rush threat. I'm sure the coaches see glimpses of Dean Lowry in him, which make sense (and with which I would be very happy).
LB Grayson Mann -- wow. Like this kid on senior tape a lot more than I thought I would. Rushes the passer off the edge a lot in high school, which I don't think will happen as often in college... but he flashes a lot of athletic ability with a good frame. Whereas I previously thought of him as Mike/Will, I can now see how he could play Sam as well. Intrigued.
LB Jaylen Rivers -- not a ton of tape posted, but plenty to like on what is available. File this one under "take the big fast guy and figure it out from there." Natural fit at Sam.
LB Khalid Jones -- doesn't necessarily blow you away athletically, but flashes the ability to find and close on the football. Similar playing style as Fisher, just with a little less size. I'll take it.
DB Greg Newsome -- has some technique to clean up, but is a pretty long and versatile athlete. Smoother than he is fast, but that's fine in our schemes. Might need a redshirt year to develop physically (plus the CB room is pretty crowded), but no reason he can't be a strong contributor.
DB Jeremiah McDonald -- big, rangy athlete playing safety. Could be a lot of different things depending how he develops physically. Another "take the big fast guy, figure it out later" situation.
Yet another solid class top-to-bottom, particularly on defense. Hank gets yet another crop of athletes to work into his schemes, though I do wish there were a little bit more explosive athleticism on the offensive side.
The Board
Looks like we are really down to two guys with recent offers, both of whom seem like candidates to commit on their upcoming official (12/15):
OL Ryan Winkel -- big, long kid who's pretty light on his feet for his size. Fits a definite need in the class for a "true tackle," even if a developmental guy. Seems like he mostly fell off of radars due to his transfer of high schools as I see no reason he isn't more highly recruited on tape. Get him in the weight room for a couple years and he should be a 315-pound tackle. I'm in.
RB Drake Anderson -- a familiar name around here as the son of Wildcat royalty, the good news is that his tape stands on its own. While it's a little unnerving that he has already had labrum surgery on both hips, he's an explosive running back with pretty good straight-line speed. A little tight in his hips (just like his dad) and doesn't quite have dad's size, but definitely worthy of P5 offers. Seems to have gotten stronger as the year went on, which makes sense for a guy who hadn't played in two years and was probably a little behind on strength and conditioning. Best football is probably ahead of him.
DB Andre Cisco also received an offer in the last week, but I don't get the vibe that we are really all that involved.
Winkel and Anderson are both excellent guys to fill out the end of the class -- under-the-radar types who emerged late for whatever reason, but both legitimate prospects. Plus it doesn't hurt that both have elite athletic bloodlines.
Hopefully all of these guys hop on board during the early signing period and it's on to building on the momentum of a 9/10-win season, the Taj Fitz, etc. to make 2019 even better. Off to a pretty good start already with Bryce Gallagher.
